My HealthySELF: Mia Hamm Talks Healthy Grains, Her Can’t-Resist Splurge and Being a Role Model

When the Olympics roll around, we always think of Mia Hamm, the trailblazing soccer star who inspired a generation of girls and played on the gold medal-winning U.S. women's team in the 2004 Games.

The 40-year-old mom of three is currently retired from soccer, but she's certainly keeping busy! She gave birth to her third baby, a boy named Garrett, in February, and she recently partnered with the Grain Foods Foundation to advocate the role of healthy grains in a balanced diet. We caught up with Mia to ask her about her must-eat foods, her can't-resist splurge and being a role model for her kids (and for girls everywhere!).

Why did you get involved with the Grains Food Foundation?

As a mom (Mia also has twin girls, Grace and Ava, who were born in March 2007) and as a former athlete, health and wellness and what you put in your body to fuel your body was part of my everyday life, and now [I’m] just thinking about my own health postpartum and trying to get back into shape. But also it’s about being a role model for my kids, really being proactive in making sure they get out and exercise and play and making sure they have a balanced diet, and that grains and whole grains are a part of it.

Which healthy habits would you like your kids to learn from you?

I think just having that balance. I think for kids they could probably eat anything with sugar in it at every sitting, so making sure you balance the grains, the carbs, the proteins, the healthy fats and obviously fruits and vegetables.

What advice would you have for women who are trying to eat healthier?

I’ve struggled with that now with three kids. You know, really trying to find that time, taking some time on a Sunday and charting out some meals for yourself and your family. Making sure you don’t bring unhealthy things into the house. Just trying to have a plan. It’s one of those things that has to be a part of your day.

Do you have a favorite breakfast that really gets you in a great place to take on the rest of the day?

I like a breakfast burrito, egg whites, tomato, spinach and a whole-wheat tortilla; or whole-grain bread with a nice egg, avocado and tomato.

If you are going to splurge and have something not so healthy, what’s the one guilty pleasure you allow yourself?

Chips and salsa, more than anything else. I can walk by cheese and crackers, but if chips and salsa are there and they’re good, I’m in it.

What is your greatest soccer memory?

Man, there are so many. World Cup ’91 (when Hamm and the women’s national team won for the first time) … obviously ’99 (when Hamm won the World Cup again) was bigger than any of us could imagine. I think just being a part of that team, being associated with those women. What was so awesome was the fact that they understood there was a bigger purpose. They just all felt this great responsibility to the game, to the young girls that would come watch us play. The fact that hopefully some of the obstacles we’d overcome, they wouldn’t have to.

Do you have any other exciting projects coming up?

[Former teammates] Kristine Lilly, Tisha Venturini and I started up our own little soccer academy called Team First Academy, where we go around the country and talk to girls about what we feel made us successful. We just want them to walk away learning something about the game or something about believing in yourself and investing in yourself. These lessons are helping us beyond our soccer days.